
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 18, 1990                   TAG: 9005180849
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Short

ODU WITHDRAWS FROM SUN BELT

Old Dominion has withdrawn from the Sun Belt Conference and will be admitted to the Colonial Athletic Association, John Iamarino, assistant Sun Belt commissioner, said Thursday.

Iamarino told The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star of Norfolk that he had received a letter from Old Dominion President William B. Spong Jr. saying the Norfolk school would leave the Sun Belt Conference effective June 1991.

"We're sorry to see them go," Iamarino said.

Spong sent the letter after the Colonial admitted Old Dominion to the league Wednesday during a telephone conference call of league athletic directors, the newspaper said.

Old Dominion officials were expected to call a news conference today to announce the switch. Athletic director Jim Jarrett could not be reached, and assistant athletic director Debbie Byrne declined to comment.

Old Dominion will join Richmond, William and Mary, James Madison, George Mason, American, East Carolina and North Carolina-Wilmington in the Colonial.

Navy is the league's eighth member, but is withdrawing to join the Patriot League following the 1990-91 school year.

by CNB